Special Penitentiary Service issues statement

The Special Penitentiary Service has responded to statements made by former Deputy Public Defender Giorgi Burjanadze regarding an alleged increase in the number of accused and convicted individuals in penitentiary institutions, calling the information false and misleading.

According to the agency’s statement, Burjanadze’s claims “do not correspond to reality, aim to mislead the public, and represent an attempt to distort the current situation.”

“Under the Order ‘On Penitentiary Institutions,’ the maximum capacity across all penitentiary facilities is set at 12,332 inmates. As of October 13, 2025, there are 10,528 accused and convicted persons housed within the system.

Over the past decade, the average number of inmates has remained relatively stable. For instance, in September 2024, the total number stood at 10,457, while in September 2025, it was 10,445,” the statement reads.

The statement further noted that several facilities are capable of accommodating more individuals than the official limit “without deteriorating their legal status and in full compliance with the law.”

“Currently, only two penitentiary institutions slightly exceed their designated capacity. In September 2025, 617 inmates were transferred from intake facilities to other institutions — 137 to closed-type prisons and 480 to semi-open facilities.

The Special Penitentiary Service once again calls on all individuals to refrain from spreading misinformation intended to mislead the public or discredit the Service’s activities,” the statement concludes.